Improvement in windmills



W. H. WHEELER.

Wind-Mills.

No.1-57,434, I Patented Dec. 1, 1874.

Wztzze our as WILLIAM H. WHEELER, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157.43%, dated Deieniber 1, 1874; application filed April 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WHEELER, of Beloit, in the county of Rockand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Windmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2, apartial top view, showing chiefly the counter-weight; Fig. 3, a partialside view.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the operation and efficiencyof windmills; and it consists in the provision of means for preventingthe operating cord from being twisted or wound upon the pitman.

For the purpose of enabling others to fully understand my invention itis necessary to describe the cor struction and operation of the entirewindmill; but I do not claim herein anything excepting the means forpreventing the operating-cord from being twisted about the pitrnan ofthe wind-wheel.

In the accompanying drawings the vertical axis of the wind-wheel isshown composed of a head, D, with a tube, E, projecting from its underside. It is supported upon the tower or standard H, so as to rotatefreely, by inserting the tube in the lateral brackets O, the upperbracket serving as a guide, and the lower one as a step for the tube.

A is the wind-wheel, and B its shaft, having bearings in the uprights Cof the vertical axis in front of the tube. G is the wind-vane orwind-gage, projecting laterally from the vertical axis, and F is themain vane or rudder, pivoted or hinged to the head in rear of the tubeE, as shown, and provided with a grooved segment, L, at its pivotedpoint above the head. The segment is provided with stops upon its undersideone to arrest its lateral movement toward the side vane when it hasreached a position parallel therewith, as hereinafter described, and theother to arrest its return movement when its longer axis is in line withthe axis of the wind-wheel. Nis the pitman for transmitting the power ofthe wheel, connected by a wrist-pin to the disk B of the wheel-shaft. Itis made angular transversely, and extends down through the tube E, beingguided in its movements bya bracket, 0, attached to the tower, and anangular opening formed in the bottom of the tube. It is jointed withinthe tube, so that its upper portion shall conform to the movements ofthe disk B, and its lower portion move in a straight line. L is a cordsecured to that corner or edge of the grooved segment next the sidevane, which, after passing over a grooved pulley, M, mounted upon thevertical axis, extends down through the tube E, and is fastened toagrooved collar, N, adapted to slide freely upon the pitman. The cordalso passes through an opening in the bottom of the ta ble, near theopening through which the pitinan works. By constructing the pitman inangular form transversely, and guiding it through a correspondingopening in the bottom of the tube, and by connecting the operating-cordto a collar adapted to slide but not to rotate upon the pitman, suchcord is prevented from being twisted or wound upon the pitman by therotation of the vertical axis.

1? is the operating-rod, extending upward through the lower bracket, andprovided with a lateral forked clutch, P, to embrace the grooved collar.This rod is guided by an eye, P runningloosely upon a vertical rod, Pconnecting the-two lower brackets. Iis a weighted lever, pivoted at oneend to an upright, K, arranged upon the head D, at one side of both thetube E and horizontal axis of the windwheel. This arm is provided at itspivoted point with a grooved sector, K and to its front end a cord, K issecured, so as to extend back within the groove and fasten to the corneror edge of the segment. By this means the weighted arm is connected tothe tail-vane concentrically to its major axis, and is also arrangedeccentrically to the vertical and horizontal axis of the wind-wheel. Theare of the sector is so arranged with reference to the weighted arm andstandard K as to guide the cord or chain K within the groove of the arcand segment of the tail-vane as such are and segment are turned on theirpivots.

WVhen the mill is in operation the Windwheel stands obliquely to thewind, being carried to such position by the side vane, thereby throwingthe tail-vane slightly against the wind. It the velocity of the latterincreases, the wind-wheel and taitvane approach each other, the latterbeing moved against the gravity of the Weighted arm. By this means theangle of the wind-wheel with respect to the wind is varied in proportionto the velocity of thelatter, and the wind-wheel is, therefore,maintained at a uniform rate of speed. If the velocity of the windbecomes too great, the wind-wheel and vane are carried around so as tostand parallel, or nearly so, to each other, in which position the wheelpresents its edge to the wind and ceases to operate. When the winddecreases in force the Weighted arm carries the tail-vane back to ortoward its normal position, and throws the wind-wheel again into theWind, such movement being greatly facilitated by the eccentric positionof the weighted arm. The weight I is made adjustable upon its arm in anyconvenient manner, for the purpose of regulating the force of the windrequired to swing the tail-vane, and, therefore, determining the speedat which the wheel shall rotate for transmitting its power to the millor other machinery. WVhen the horizontal axis of the wind-wheel iscarried out of line with the axis of the tail-vane the two stand at anangle with each other upon that side of the vertical axis or tube Eopposite to the eccentric weight. The effect of this is to produce alateral st ain upon the vertieal axis and the parts connected therewith,because the force of the wind is exerted laterally upon the wheel andvane. 'lhe eccentricity of the weighted arm counteracts this strain, andprevents injury to the vertical axis and the parts mounted thereon. Asthe angle of the wheel and vane decreases under a stronger wind tl l elateral strain becomes greater upon the vertical axis; but the decreaseof such angle raises the weight higher, and therefore increases itsleverage to counteract the strain.

By operating the rod P the tail-vane may be swung around to a greater orless degree while the wheel is in operation, or it may be swung aroundparallel to the wheel, to bring the latter to a state of rest.

I claini as my invention The combination of the sliding collar N, theforked clutch l, the guide P and the operating-rod P with the pitman andoperatingeord of the'tail-vane, substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

\VILLIAM H. VHIJELER.

Vitnesses:

G130. E. BROWN, MnLvtLLn Unonon.

